(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)
1st Sunday of Lent (C), February 17, 2013
Liturgical readings
Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Psalm 91
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13
"The devil left Jesus to await another opportunity."
In the gospel from Luke 4:1-13, the Lord was tempted by the devil in the desert when He was fasting for 40 days. If one reads the gospel story more intently, you can notice how the Lord defended Himself well by being consistently grounded in his following Scripture. The devil was not as consistent: he used bread in his first temptation, and used the Scripture only when the Lord defended Himself with Scripture. In the third temptation, the devil quoted from Scripture twice - with the gospel presenting it by the connective "and" or "and again". But the Lord was humble and wise. He replied "It also says," and with just one Scripture reference: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." His reply has a depth of meaning that can nullify the devil's first two temptations.
Jesus, by His example in this gospel story, shows us how we are to battle and stand our ground against temptation. Since He knew how human flesh and its mortal condition can be tempted by the devil, He will help us in any time of trial and adversity, so that we do not fall into temptation and sin. Lent is that season of grace by which He strengthens the spirit of the faithful. The means that Jesus took should also be one's means - prayer and fasting. And since the Lord practiced works of mercy during His public ministry, works of mercy and charity can be added also to prayer and fasting. If one examines the sermon of St. Peter Chrysologus for Ash Wednesday in the Christian breviary, you will learn how prayer, fasting and mercy are the three means that can make anyone's faith stand firm, a life of devotion constant, and the practice of virtue endure. The degree to which one consistently adheres to this spiritual principle during Lent will produce enough faith, devotion, and virtue to help hurdle the daily temptations and struggles of life.
Lent is also a liturgical season of healing, purification and vigilance. It heals and purifies from sin, especially when one makes an effort to go to Confession. It makes the spiritual vision of the soul sharper and its life in the Spirit stronger. It reminds us of human frailty and mortality - making us wiser and more contemplative in our attitudes in life. It leads to understand the wisdom hidden in the Cross of our Lord, and it provides meaning to all the pain and suffering experienced in life. The grace of Lent and its discipline makes us fear sin and avoid offending God by our words and actions. Without the discipline of Lent, the solemn respect and reverence we often lose during the rest of the Church's liturgical season, is restored. The Lord becomes again the force and center of our life. He, His sacrifice on the Cross, and His love calls all to be the Christians He wants each one of us to be: men and women restored in His likeness, in word and deed.
